Kadena plan a no-go: U.S.

[DougP]

"Operationally, it is unworkable," (http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20091031a3.html)

The United States said Thursday it can't support the idea of transferring U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa to nearby U.S. Kadena Air Base due to operational difficulties.

"Operationally, it is unworkable," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said. "And so you cannot consolidate the air force operations, the marine corps operations onto that facility and do all the things that we need to do to provide for the defense of Japan.

"So that is not a suitable replacement for Futenma," he said.

Noting the United States has weighed the Futenma-Kadena merger option before, Morrell said the conclusion was that "it simply does not work."

"The only replacement that works is the one that's been agreed to by both of our governments, that's been built over the last 15 years, and that's Camp Schwab," he said. "And that's where we are focusing our efforts, and we hope the Japanese government will as well."

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada floated the Kadena option idea as a possible solution to breaking the deadlock over the existing plan to relocate the Futenma airfield from Ginowan to a coastal area in Nago, also on Okinawa Island.

Later on Pentagon spokesman, Geoff Morrell added; "IMHO". No further comment was necessary.

[Blues]

T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U.

How many experts does it take to make an uninformed opinion invalid?? :D

[Muku]

Does anyone actually think that any Pentagon mouthpiece is going to spout anything other than the party line with regards to Futenma after so many years have passed?

Could you imagine the shit storm that would come if he had said anything different.

I wouldnt be surprised one bit if that Japanese Foreign Ministry folks look at this and make an official request to re-look at the feasibility of this option. Purely because the guy admitted that it had been looked at before.

It's going to get even worse with the upcoming, mid-January, elections for Mayor of the City of Nago. One of the candidates running has the strong backing of the current national party in power, and many anti-base people as well.

[P_chan]

Wait, are you telling me that there are more important things going on in nago then pineapples?:D

[Spadesy]

lol, the military - 1. The Man - 0.

Er...wait...

[DoctorP]

The United States said Thursday it can't support the idea of transferring U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa to nearby U.S. Kadena Air Base due to operational difficulties.

" Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said. "And so you cannot consolidate the air force operations, the marine corps operations onto that facility and do all the things that we need to do to provide for the defense of Japan.

"So that is not a suitable replacement for Futenma," he said.


Of course it can't be done with the current configuration...which is all he is addressing...but, you could rework the runway configuration and work something out.

[Lowerdeez]

I think theres more to it then that. Kadena is kind of a big hub. If something serious happens over on this side of the world they're gonna move a whole bunch of planes forward to Kadena. I think thats why they want to keep their flightline clear.

plus having a bunch more Marines on Kadena to mingle in with the Airforce is always gonna cause issues.

[Oceandreamer]

I fully understand the need for the land; we do plan on giving it over in the future. We are not giving up land until we have a foot hold elsewhere. Centralizing all the US aircraft to one facility is idiotic. One place of attack seems to set us up to be like Pearl Harbor when all they had to do was take out one run way and we are sitting ducks again. We are here for a purpose and that is CYA. And BTW we are here to protect the Okinawa’s as well.

[gtlm2000]

OK.....Moving for Henoko is only plan now.

[DougP]

Of course it can't be done with the current configuration...which is all he is addressing...but, you could rework the runway configuration and work something out.

Anything is possible. :)

http://i35.tinypic.com/ak9ymt.jpg

[gtlm2000]

Maybe anti-base people is mad again :D

[Trail]

Anything is possible. :)

http://i35.tinypic.com/ak9ymt.jpg

So THAT's how they make spam.... :scratchchin: :grin1:

[DoctorP]

I fully understand the need for the land; we do plan on giving it over in the future. We are not giving up land until we have a foot hold elsewhere. Centralizing all the US aircraft to one facility is idiotic. One place of attack seems to set us up to be like Pearl Harbor when all they had to do was take out one run way and we are sitting ducks again. We are here for a purpose and that is CYA. And BTW we are here to protect the Okinawa’s as well.

Futenma is only like 4 miles away...not like both couldn't be bombed during the same freakin' run! Now if they were like 20-40 miles apart, then I could agree with your argument.

[Samusan1986]

When the Marine Corps leaves Okinawa for good, GOJ better let me buy a gun (for self defence in case of invasion) lol

[Crazysix]

When the Marine Corps leaves Okinawa for good, GOJ better not enslave me and make me know what a real gaijin is all about

there fixed it for ya